“Truth,” Pippa said as she put a bottle in her son’s mouth. “He is allergic to mom getting any rest.” She cooed at her baby. “Isn’t that right, my little sweetie Pete?”
“I can’t believe there was a bomb,” Tippi said. “It doesn’t seem real.”
I shook my head. “It sure doesn’t.” Even though I’d had the visions, part of me had doubted how real the man’s threats were. After all, he hadn’t shot up the street fair. Instead, he’d put bullets in a kettle and let the chips fall where they may. That didn’t seem like the act of someone trying to hurt people. Although, he also didn’t seem like a guy who cared if anyone got hurt.
I scanned the gathered group of AA attendees as the police dismissed them across the road. Weirdly, I recognized someone else in the group. It was Loretta from the shop this morning—the woman with the yellow jacket, the one who was sleeping with her friend Jackie’s boyfriend.
I nudged Pippa and gestured with my chin in the woman’s direction. “Recognize her?”
Pippa peered at Loretta for a moment, then her eyes brightened. “The cheater,” she hissed.
I nodded. “The cheater.”
Tippi leaned in. “Who are we talking about?”
I didn’t answer, because Ezra walked over. He took my hand and led me away from the group. “I can’t leave the scene until after the FBI gets here.” He shook his head. “That smell isn’t going away anytime soon.”
I made a face. “It’s really disgusting.”
“The bureau is flying in a hazardous material specialist to test the gas fumes and a bomb specialist to investigate the IED. Broyles doesn’t think it’s a deadly gas. No one who has come in contact with it has any burns, and they aren’t having any trouble breathing, but I don’t want to take any chances.”
I leaned into him. “I hope everyone got out of the building.”
“Me too.” He pressed his forehead to mine. “Why don’t you go home? Or better yet, go home with Pippa and Jordy. I’d feel better knowing you weren’t alone.”
“I won’t be alone. I’ll have Gilly come over, or I’ll go over to her place.” I rubbed the back of his hand with my thumb. “Are you coming over tonight?”
He shook his head. “Mason’s staying at my cabin. I kind of want to check on him. Even though there wasn’t a real shooter this morning, the whole thing freaked him out.”
“Freaked me out too. I’m glad you’ll be with him.”
“Don’t worry, I’m not going to leave you alone, though. Officer Treece and Walters are going to be camped outside your place all night.”
“Do you think that’s necessary?”
He took me in his arms. “I absolutely do. I’ll feel better knowing my people are watching out for you.”
I grinned. “I’ll be thinking of you.”
“I’ll be thinking of you.”
He gave me a sweet kiss that melted the walls I’d been throwing up since the maniac started sending me memories. A hot tear blurred my vision.
“Why don’t you go to my place instead?” he suggested, misinterpreting my crying. “Mason would love the extra company.”
If I’d had an extra bed, I would have invited him to bring Mason over, but I didn’t think it was fair to drag the kid from his own bed to sleep on my couch because I didn’t want to be without him. I smiled. “I’m fine. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
“We’ll talk tonight.” He smiled back. “I’ll call you when I get done here.”
“It’s a plan.”
As I kissed Ezra goodbye, a ball of pain swelled between my ribs as I thought about my new nemesis and his plans. Was this bomb the end of it or just the beginning? He was in charge of the game right now. I was his pawn. I had to believe he’d make a mistake and soon. I just hoped it happened before he killed someone to prove whatever point he was trying to make.
ChapterEleven
It was nearly nine before I got home. Treece and Walters had followed me home and were parked on the street at the end of my driveway. I lived on acul de sac, so I didn’t have many neighbors to complain. I texted Ezra and Pippa to let them know I was safe and mostly sound because they’d asked me to. Afterward, I trudged to my bedroom, feeling the weight of the day’s tension pulling at my shoulders.
The hot shower felt like a long-awaited embrace, and as the water poured over me, the dam I’d built around my emotions finally broke. I cried, sobs racking my body, each tear washing away the remnants of the fear I’d kept at bay while we were searching for the bomb. The reality of what could have happened—the lives that could have been lost—especially Pippa and her family—hit me like a tidal wave. The thought that someone might have targeted the AA meeting, knowing that people I loved were there, gnawed at me.
